Tomorrow (2/17/17) Begins the Great Backyard Bird Count/Bird Photos

Welcome back everyone to my blog.  It's hard to believe, but one of the greatest citizen science projects begins tomorrow, February 17th.  Yes, the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is here!

This is a quick update to remind everyone, in my last post I also wrote about it.  Below once again is some simple instructions to get you started.  For more information, please visit the GBBC website.

Join Us for the Next Count, February 17-20, 2017

 It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Register for the count or use your existing login name and password. If you have never participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count or any other Cornell Lab citizen-science project, you’ll need to create a new account. If you already created an account for last year’s GBBC, or if you’re already registered with eBird or another Cornell Lab citizen-science project, you can use your existing login information.

2. Count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the GBBC. You can count for longer than that if you wish! Count birds in as many places and on as many days as you like—one day, two days, or all four days. Submit a separate checklist for each new day, for each new location, or for the same location if you counted at a different time of day. Estimate the number of individuals of each species you saw during your count period.

3. Enter your results on the GBBC website by clicking “Submit Observations” on the home page. Or download the free eBird Mobile app to enter data on a mobile device. If you already participate in the eBird citizen-science project, please use eBird to submit your sightings during the GBBC. Your checklists will count toward the GBBC.

Finally, a couple of bird photos to enjoy.  The GBBC also includes a photo contest.  So enjoy the holiday weekend, and join in the fun with you family while participating in the GBBC!

Male House Finch 

Black Capped Chickadee and Hairy Woodpecker

Until next time.

Time to Buy Seeds/Great Backyard Bird Count Coming Soon

Even though we are currently in the grips of winter, it is always refreshing to dream of Spring and Summer.  This post will cover some gardening planning, as well as getting ready for another great Winter activity, the Great Backyard Bird Count.

It's hard to believe, but many stores are already displaying seeds.  I find January and February a great time to search for seeds, since the interest is fairly low, therefore the selection is great.  When gardening season arrives in May, it is often harder to find as good a selection.  Also, for those tired of winter and needing something to look forward to, this will serve to brighten up the cold winter days.

Selection of Seeds and Seed Catalogs

As seen above, I have already received some seed catalogs and also have purchased some seeds.  So now is the time to look through your seed box to see what you need for the coming growing season. Since gardeners tend to be creatures of habit, you will more than likely return to some of your favorite varieties, although it is always good to mix in a few new ones each year to evaluate them.

As you look through your seed box, there are two questions to ponder.  First of all, you may be wondering how long seeds last, in other words, when are seeds too old to be considered viable.  Although this is not an exact science,  through my many years of gardening experience, I have found that most seeds are good for 2 growing seasons.  So, for example, this year I will throw out all seeds labeled for 2015, and keep those from 2016 and of course the current year.  

Secondly, probably the most common question is, where is the best place to buy the seeds?  The two main sources are seed catalogs (most have websites), and of course local stores.

There are many seed companies to choose from, a few of which are shown in the photo above.  I didn't receive nearly as many catalogs this year probably because I order very little from them.  The reason being is that the seeds are generally much more expensive from a catalog (or website), although some do run specials.   I normally purchase most seeds from local stores and garden centers.  The one main exception is for specialty varieties, for example heirloom tomatoes.  The catalogs are excellent for any special or unique varieties you may be interested in.

Below is a listing and links (caption of each photo) for my favorite seed companies and a new variety for 2017 from each.

Burpee

New For 2017:  Gladiator Hybrid Tomato

"Gigantic ‘Gladiator’ is the hands-down champion in the arena of ‘Roma’ tomatoes.  With an unbeatable armor of vigor, flavor, aroma and yield, it bears a bounty of oval 8 oz. fruit on the patio or in a small garden.  Its dense flesh and tangy taste make ‘Gladiator’ victorious for imparting rich, robust flavor to paste, sauces, soups, salsa, or ketchup.  Strong roots conquer enemies such as blossom end rot."

Park Seed

New For 2017:  Sweet Hearts Hybrid Grape Tomato:

"High sugar content and pliable skin make for a really delicious bite!"

"Sweet Hearts was bred in Japan by one of the premier seed companies in the world, and we are honored to make it available to home gardeners this season.  Once you grow your own grape tomatoes, you will never look twice at those overpriced supermarket specimens in the clamshell packaging!  Sweet Hearts is out to win your heart!"

Jung Seed

New For 2017:  42 Days Tomato

"One of the world's earliest maturing tomatoes.  In the past, early ripening tomatoes have tended to lack in flavor, but not this one.  Round, 1 ounce, cocktail-type fruits are bright red, have very few seeds and are bursting with excellent flavor.  Believed to have originated in Mexico, but it performs well in both cool and warm locations.  Ripens just 42 days after transplant."

Johnny's Selected Seeds

New For 2017:  Damsel Tomato

New! Late blight resistance and excellent flavor.

Damsel produces 10-12 oz., globe-shaped fruits with beautiful, pink skin.  Shares flavor qualities (sweet, rich, and tangy) with traditional pink heirlooms, such as Brandywine and Pruden's Purple, but is more resistant to disease.  Compact indeterminate plants require minimal pruning.  Damsel is the first commercial variety available from independent breeder EarthWork Seeds, who produced the seed in California.  High resistance to late blight, nematodes, and verticillium wilt. Indeterminate.

Harris Seeds

New For 2017:  Mountain Merit F1

"Mountain Merit is a medium-large, 8-10 oz. tomato produced on a determinate plant that has a high level of resistance to late blight.  It has good adaptability, deep red colored, firm fruit and also offers intermediate resistance to early blight and Nematodes.  Resistance to TSWV will also make this an appealing variety for Southern growers to use."

Totally Tomatoes

New For 2017:  Chef's Choice Green Hybrid Tomato

"Tangy sweet flavor and unconventional, attractive green fruits.  Now joining the ranks of the 'Chef's Choice' hyrid tomatoes is this unusually colored, bright yellow-green variety.  This award-winning tomato has all the flavor and wonderful texture of its orange and pink counterparts, but also offers an interestng treat for the eyes!  Impress your friends with this one-of-a-kind color and flavor sensation that is sure to become a staple in all your favorite dishes.  Flattened globe-shaped fruits are 6-7 inches in diameter and weigh between 9 and 10 ounces."


Great Backyard Bird Count

As mentioned above, the Great Backyard Bird Count is fast approaching.  This year's count will be held February 17th to 20th.

To get started, below are instructions taken from the GBBC website:

Join Us for the Next Count, February 17-20, 2017

 It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Register for the count or use your existing login name and password. If you have never participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count or any other Cornell Lab citizen-science project, you’ll need to create a new account. If you already created an account for last year’s GBBC, or if you’re already registered with eBird or another Cornell Lab citizen-science project, you can use your existing login information.

2. Count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the GBBC. You can count for longer than that if you wish! Count birds in as many places and on as many days as you like—one day, two days, or all four days. Submit a separate checklist for each new day, for each new location, or for the same location if you counted at a different time of day. Estimate the number of individuals of each species you saw during your count period.

3. Enter your results on the GBBC website by clicking “Submit Observations” on the home page. Or download the free eBird Mobile app to enter data on a mobile device. If you already participate in the eBird citizen-science project, please use eBird to submit your sightings during the GBBC. Your checklists will count toward the GBBC.

So register for this great event, and have lots of fun with your family participating in this great worldwide research project.

Finally, a few bird photos and a nice sunrise photo.  Thank for visiting and stay tuned for more info on the Great Backyard Bird Count, winter sowing, and much more.

American Goldfinches

Mourning Doves

Starting a Terrarium/Bird Photos

Once again welcome back to my blog, and a Happy New Year to all!

In this post, I will write about terrariums in general and also document my first attempt in starting one.  As a gardener, I have been fascinated with these for years, but until now I have never experimented with one.

First, let's begin with the definition of a terrarium, taken  from Wikipedia:

"A terrarium is a miniature ecosystem which is a complex system of relationships between organisms and resources of different types. The predominant organisms in your terrarium ecosystem are plants and the micro-organisms in the soil. The major resources are water, sunlight, and soil."

Terrarium have always been popular, as they offer a unique way to showcase plants.  Compared to caring for regular houseplants, they are relatively low maintenance once established, and the unique environment allows for different varieties of pants to be displayed in a decorative manner.

To satisfy your curiosity, below is a photo my terrarium, which has now has been planted for about 6 weeks.

There are two types of terrariums, open and closed (those which have a removable lid).  In either case, making one is fairly simple, and requires only the following:

• A glass or plastic container

• Small stones or gravel for drainage

• Moss, if you choose

• Soil (growing medium)

• Plants that won’t overgrow (generally miniature or dwarf plants)

• Spoon for placing plants in the soil.

Before I explain the steps of planting the terrarium, I will spend some time talking about types of plants that will grow in a terrarium.  There are a quite a few plants that will do well, but it's important to choose from those which are known to thrive in this specialized environment.

Following is a listing of plants suitable for terrariums.  This information was taken from the website titled The Garden Helper.  This site has an extensive listing of plants for terrariums.  Below I have included just those suitable for bright light conditions.  They also list low light, moderate light, and desert type plants, the latter of which work well in open containers.

This website also gives detailed information regarding starting terrariums and much more.

Terrarium and Dish Garden Plants for Bright Light Conditions

African Violet Saintpaulia ionantha		African Violets were first collected from eastern Africa and Tasmania in the late nineteenth century. Their attractive, velvety foliage, compact growing habit and wide variety of long blooming flower colors have made the African Violet the most popular flowering house plant in the world. See Web Page
Bloodleaf Iresine Iresine herbstii		Small, branching plant with blood red foliage, grows to 24". Needs rich, loamy, well draining soil, and bright light with some sun. Keep soil evenly moist. Pinch tips to induce bushiness. Propagate by softwood cuttings in the spring. Hardy in zones 10-12
Button Fern Pellaea rotundifolia		This low growing, spreading fern from Australia prefers bright indirect light, protection from drafts and evenly moist soil. Fills in any space quickly. Susceptible to attacks from scale insects. Hardy in zones 9-11
Dragon Tree Dracaena marginata		Tree-like plant that is tolerant of lower light but appreciates bright, indirect light. Allow to dry slightly between waterings. Sensitive to fluoride, so allow water to set for 24 hours before watering. Propagate by air layering or cuttings.
Earth star Cryptanthus bromelioides		Rosette forming, epiphytic Bromeliad from Brazil will grow to 12". Needs bright light but no direct sun and high humidity. Should be planted in a potting mix containing sphagnum moss or peat. Susceptible to mealy bugs and scale insects.
False Aralia Dizygotheca elegantissima		Will grow to five feet tall. Keep compact by pruning. Prefers bright indirect light, barely moist, acidic soil. Prefers night temperatures of 70°, daytime temperatures of 75°-85°. Grow from seeds that need light for germination.
Flame Violet Episcia dianthiflora		Trailing, 6" relative of the African Violet from South America. Requires constant warmth and humidity, bright indirect light and should be planted in a porous, peaty potting mix. Keep soil moist at all times. Hardy in zones 10-12
Friendship Plant Pilea involucrata		Friendship Plants are native to Central and South America, where they are known as Panamiga plants.They are creeping plants that form dense, 8"-12" tall mounds of deeply textured, oval, 2½" leaves. The foliage color varies, but the most common variety has dark, reddish brown leaves gilded with silver or copper. See Web Page
Golden Pothos Epipremnum aureum		Golden Pothos are one most popular of all house plants. They are attractive, durable and easy to grow vines that have smooth, leathery, heart shaped leaves with distinctive marbling alternating along rope-like green stems. Pothos vines are among the top ten air purifying plants for indoor use.
Ivy Hedera helix		Ivy grows best with four or more hours a day of direct sunlight but will grow fairly well in bright indirect light. Keep soil evenly moist. Pinch tips to induce bushiness Feed monthly with half strength, balanced fertilizer.
Maidenhair Fern Adiantum raddianum		Prefers bright indirect light, rich well draining soil and high humidity. Keep the soil evenly moist, but decrease watering slightly in the winter. Grows best when night temperatures are cooler (55°) Hardy in zones 10-12
Miniature Peperomia Pilea depressa		Miniature Peperomias are low growing, creeping plants with pairs of tiny, opposing round leaves on rigid stems that readily root at each node that contacts the soil. This Pilea prefers lower humidity and drier soil. A nice, but fairly plain plant for hanging baskets or to cover the soil in large planters. See Web Page
Moon Valley Pilea 'Moon Valley'		Moon Valley is cool little plant that grows to about 12" tall. Their greatest feature is their saw toothed edged, chartreuse leaves with deep texturing like the craters and valleys on the moon. (sometimes you have to use your imagination..) Excellent for terrariums or dish gardens. See Web Page
Moses in a Cradle Rhoeo discolor		12" rosette forming plant with bi-colored olive green above, purple below leaves. Needs bright indirect light and moist, rich, peaty soil. Avoid sudden temperature changes or drafts. Propagate by softwood cuttings.
Nerve Plant Fittonia verchaffeltii		Brightly colored pink or white veins paint a net over the oval leaves of this spreading 6-8" tall plant. Needs bright indirect light and moist, rich soil. Propagate by softwood cuttings kept @ 75°. Hardy in zones 11-12
Parlor Palm Chamaedorea elegans		Slow growing but may become too tall for dish gardens (12-30"). Should be grown in a warm (75°-85°) area with bright indirect light with high humidity (or misting). Keep soil evenly moist. Feed in spring and summer only. Hardy in zones 11-12
Pin Cushion Plant Nertera granadensis		The Pin Cushion Plant should be kept in a sunny location with a room temperature of 65-70 degrees. When active growth slows during the winter, watering should be cut back. Produces lots of tiny orange berries just in time for halloween!
Pink Polka Dot Hypoestes phyllostachya		The Polka Dot plant grows best in a humid environment, needs bright light but not full sun. Use water that has been allowed to set for 24 hours to keep the soil slightly moist. Pinch back for bushiness. Hardy in zones 10-12
Prayer Plant Maranta leucoreura		Need very high humidity, medium or bright filtered light and well drained soil, slightly peaty soil. Keep the soil evenly moist except when dormant. Feed with balanced "acid fertilizer" every 2 weeks when actively growing.
Purple Passion Plant Gynura aurantiaca		Passion Plants need bright light but must be protected full sun. Keep the soil evenly moist. Feed every 2-3 weeks with half-strength house plant food when growing. Add peat moss to the potting mix. Propagation is by softwood cuttings
Rosary Vine Ceropegia woodii		The slender flowers resemble a small pink vase. Needs bright light (morning sun is ok), summer temperatures around 70°-75°, but keep cooler in winter. Do not over water Feed monthly with half strength house plant food when growing.
Shamrocks Oxalis oregona		Shamrocks are bulbs that grow best when they receive cool fresh air, moist soil and receive bright light but not direct sun. Needs a yearly period of dormancy. To propagate Shamrocks, just repot and separate the bulbs before replanting
Spider Plant Chlorophytum comosum		Need bright natural light or artificial grow lights, evenly moist soil, and prefer cooler temperatures. Decrease their light hours to simulate the shorter days of fall to produce 'babies'. Feed every 3 months with house plant fertilizer
Swedish Ivy Plectranthus australis		Swedish Ivy is a fast growing, spreading, evergreen perennial plant from South Africa that is closely related to the Coleus. They have slightly rounded, waxy, glossy green, 1½"-2" leaves with scalloped edges, and produce 3"-8" racemes of pink, lilac or white flowers. See Web Page
Tahitian Bridal Veil Gibasis geniculata		Creeping or hanging plant, native to Jamaica (not Tahiti). Prefers bright indirect light, high humidity and moderately rich, well draining soil. Allow the soil to dry moderately before watering. Hardy in zones 11-12
Watermelon Peperomia Peperomia argyreia		Mound growing plant to 12". Needs bright light but must be protected full sun. Keep the soil evenly moist in warm weather but allow to dry before watering in winter. Feed monthly in spring and summer with half-strength house plant food.
Zebra Plant Aphelandra squarrosa		Zebra Plants are extremely showy evergreen plants with pairs of shiny, 6"-9", lance shaped green leaves, boldly variegated with cream, white or silvery striped veins. Under ideal conditions, they can be persuaded to bloom. Only hardy in zones 11-12. See Web Page

Now, the few simple steps I followed in putting together my terrarium:

• Place a layer of stones in the container approximately 1 inch deep.
• Next put a thin layer of moss which acts as a filter between the soil and the stones.
• Place a 3 to 4 inch layer of growing medium or potting soil.
• Finally, place the plants in the terrarium using a spoon to make small indentations to hold the plants.
• Level off the soil around the plants an add water to dampen the soil.
• Replace the lid if using a closed terrarium.

Putting Together a Terrarium

The plants I used were a frosty fern (Selaginella), spider plant, and another fern that started growing in the soil of our jade plant during the summer, when the plant was on our deck.  We move quite a few of our houseplants outside for the summer to make our deck more decorative.

It may be necessary to remove the lid from time to time to allow built up moisture to escape. Eventually, the ecosystem will stabilize and less fogging should occur.  Also, avoid direct sunlight for better results, as this may cause excessive moisture buildup.

Finally, a few bird photos from the past several weeks:

Northern Cardinal (Male)

Northern Cardinal (Female)

Norther Cardinal (Male)

Thanks for visiting.  The seed catalogs are arriving, more to come.

Happy New Year: Bird Photos and A New Bird Identifying App

Welcome back and Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all.  In this post I will share more of the photos taken during my participation in Project FeederWatch.  I will also discuss the latest version of Merlin, a bird identification app with real-time offline bird identification for 650 species.

I previously wrote a post regarding Merlin and other birding apps, and also the various birding research projects available to participate in including the Christmas Bird count, which is now ongoing.  This post can be found in the right hand margin under 'Featured Post".


First, Enjoy The Bird Photos:

Downy Woodpecker

Blue Jay

White Throated Sparrow

Black-Capped Chickadee

Dark-Eyed Junco

American Tree Sparrow

Black-Capped Chickadee

White Breasted Nuthatch

Merlin Bird App Now With Photo ID:


This latest update is simply fascinating.  In the past, the Merlin app could help identify a bird by entering parameters such as size, shape, colors, location, etc.  Now, this app can identify the bird species from the photos you take on your smartphone or digital camera.  And as mentioned above, the app can identify 650 different species.

Merlin App Depiction

You can choose a photo that you just took, one from your photo library, or even take a photo of another photo, for example, one on your digital camera.  The app uses computer vision models developed from over 1.85 million photos.

For a full description of the Merlin app, which is free and available for both IOS and Android, click on the this link from the E-Bird website.

With all of the excitement surrounding this app (yes, this is exciting for bird watchers!), I thought I would put it to the test.

I tested it by identifying three of my photos, it correctly identified a Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, but incorrectly ID'd the White-Throated Sparrow, but that photo was a little dark.  I think that's good results for a first try.  I will continue to test the app and report my results in future posts.

Until next time.

Simply Photos - Project FeederWatch/Fall Garden Cleanup

Welcome back.  It's hard to believe that this weekend is the 5th week of Project FeederWatch.  I have enjoyed it as always.  This fall has seen a wide range of weather conditions, including the days leading up to Thanksgiving during which the weather changed from 65 degrees to 18 inches of snow over a two day period.

In this post I will share a few photos I have captured thus far.  It's a challenge to get good photos, as it requires a great deal of patience at times.  The different weather conditions have, however, provided varying backdrops for the photos.

In case you missed my last post regarding project FeederWatch, it can be viewed in the right hand margin of this post as a "Featured Post".  That post will give you all the specifics you would need if your want to participate in this great project.

Female Northern Cardinal

Blue Jay

House Sparrows

European Starling

Hungry Blue Jay

Dark-Eyed Junco

Fall Garden Cleanup

.
Even though Winter is settling in, I am sharing a few photos and information from the fall garden cleanup process that I promised in my last post.

It is important to care for your garden in the Fall, so that in the Spring it will be easier to get it ready for planting.  It will also help to ensure that next year's garden will be a success.

The main chore in the fall is obviously to remove the remaining plants and to till the soil.

It is OK to leave a few decomposing plants to till into the soil as the organic matter is generally good for the garden with one notable exception.  If you had plants affected by blight, it is recommended to dispose of those plants completely to help prevent it's return next season.  For more information about early and late blight, refer to this post from 2014.

 Another important aspect is to amend the soil.  If you compost kitchen scraps and other organic matter, that is excellent to use to enhance your soil,  Since I don't currently compost, I use chopped leaves and grass clippings, which also add nutrients and character to the soil.  As a rule, organic matter not only adds nutrients, but also improves the soil consistency in a way that allows it to retain moisture better and to prevent it from hardening in harsh conditions during the summer.

Amending Garden Soil

Cold Hearty Vegetables Still Thriving

Adding Layer of Leaves/Grass Clippings

Late Season Vegetables

As you can see from the photos above, I had quite a few late season, cold hardy vegetables including Swiss chard, kale, and leeks   These veggies can survive late into the Fall season and can withstand temperatures down to the mid twenties.  Some actually improve with frost, such as leeks.

As always, thanks for visiting.  Stay tuned for more bird photos from my Project FeederWatch participation.  Also, in my next post, my first attempt at a terrarium,

Project FeederWatch - It's Bird Watching Time!

Welcome Back.  Here we are in November, actually almost half way through the month.  The garden is for the most part finished for the season, however, a few cold hardy vegetables remain.  I will post a few photos in my next post of those items and some fall gardening tips.

But for the immediate future, I am turning my attention to one of my favorite winter hobbies, bird watching. and of course, Project FeederWatch, which is a joint venture between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada.  This project starts this Saturday, November 12th.

Although I will focus mainly on Project FeederWatch in this post, another of my favorite birding projects is The Great Backyard Bird Count, which will take place February 17-20, 2017.  This project involves the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon, Bird Studies Canada, and eBird.

For those birders who want to submit bird counts any day of the year, there is eBird, which  is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and The Audubon Society.

For information on this citizen science and how to get started, click here.

Some key information from the website is listed below:

Important Dates:

The 2016-2017 FeederWatch season runs from Saturday, November 12 to Friday, April 7. Online data entry will open for new participants on November 1. The last day to start a two-day count is Thursday, April 6.

The project always starts on the second Saturday of November and runs for 21 weeks.

Instruction Summary:

1. Sign up – If you have not yet signed up, join today! During the season, it takes a few weeks from when you sign up for your kit to arrive with your ID number and for your ID number to be activated in Your Data.
2. Select your count site – Choose a portion of your yard that is easy to monitor, typically an area with feeders that is visible from one vantage point.
3. Choose your count days – Select two consecutive days as often as once a week (less often is fine). Leave at least five days when you do not count between each of your two-day counts.
4. How to count – Watch your feeders as much or a little as you want over your selected count days. Record the maximum number of each species visible at any one time during your two-day count. Keep one tally across both days. Do not add your counts together!
5. What to count – Please count
   • all of the individuals of each species in view at any one time
   • birds attracted to food or water you provided
   • birds attracted to fruits or ornamental plantings
   • hawks and other predatory birds that are attracted by the birds at your feeders
   But do not count
   • birds that simply fly over the count site, such as Canada Geese or Sandhill Cranes.
   • birds seen on non-count days
6. Report your counts – Submit counts through the Your Data section of our website.

For further information, use the link above. If you need ideas regarding how to feed birds including the many different types of bird feeders, refer to my "Featured Post" above in the right hand margin of the blog.

I am excited to get started again this year.   Even though this may seem like a huge commitment since it runs for 21 weeks, it's fine if you don't or can't participate each and every week.   Any data you collect will be very useful for research.

Finally, as I have stated many times, bird watching is a great family activity.   It can be done both indoors and out, is not expensive, and can help pass the time during the long winter months.

So dust off the binoculars, sharpen your pencils, and sign up today for Project FeederWatch. 

In closing, another nice sunrise at my home taken in late October.

Thanks for visiting, until next time.